Paint roller



Oct. 11, 1960 G. H. WICHERN PAINT ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24, 1958 I N V EN TOR. 6E IVE H. WIGHERN COMPRESS- PA/NT 0R TANK Q M KW . A TTORNEY G, H. WICHERN Oct. 11, 1960 PAINT ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1958 A TTORNE Y -"2,9ss;310] PAINTROLLER' Gene H. Wichern, s50 Thimlar Road, New Haven, Ind. I

" "This invention relates in' general to apaint roller and more particularly to a paint" roller wherein the paint is supplied or fed to the exterior surface of the roller under pressure'so that the roller can be operated or used without placing it in a conventional paint pan or container.

The pressure fed paint rollers of the prior art have a tube or manifold which is spaced from the roller and requires a shield to prevent the paint from splattering on other objects which are not to be painted.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pressure fed paint roller having a floating manifold which is in pressure contact with the exterior surface of the roller so that the paint will be evenly distributed thereon and will not splatter, thereby eliminating the need for a shield as required by the prior art.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an improved pressure fed paint roller provided with resilient means for maintaining a floating paint supply manifold in pressure contact with the exterior surface of the roller.

A salient object of this invention is the provision of a pressure fed paint roller which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which may be operated in an inclosure without covering objects therein not desired to be painted.

Other objects and features will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed out, as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the paint roller device with the pressure fed system shown schematically;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially n the section line 33 of Figure 1;

' Figure 4 is a top plan view with parts broken away and shown in section and with the roller in position to be removed;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along section line 66 of Figure 1.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 11 designates a U-shaped frame having a first arm 13 and a second arm 15. A round shaft 17 is pivotally connected at 19 to the arm 13 and is provided with a flat portion 21 at the free end which is adapted to be received in the bifurcated end portion 23 of the arm 15. The free end of the shaft is secured in the bifurcated portion by a pin 29 disposed'in openings 25 and 21; espectively. g M. Jnurnalled on the shaft -17' is a roller 31 comprising end Patented Oct. 1 1, 1960 of the roller 31. The manifold is provided with spaced openings47 on the'underneath side of themanifold along the portion'that is in contact with the exterior surface of the roller so 'thatrthe paint will completely cover that portion of the roller that passes by the openings. Each end of the manifold is provided with removable plugs 49 and 5 1, respectively, so that the manifold maybe cleaned when desired. The manifol'dis provided with a tubular projection 46 intermediate its ends. v v

A pair of adjustable brackets '53- and 55 is provided for mounting the pivotal support 37 on the frame 11. The bracket 53 is similar to the bracket 55; consequently, only the details of one bracket is illustrated. Referring to Figure 5, the bracket 53 is provided with a bore 59 for receiving the member 14 of the frame 11. The bracket is fixedly secured to the arm 14 by a set screw 57. The bracket is provided with a projection 61 having a transverse bore 63 for receiving the inturned end 65 of the arcuate member 41.

The tubular handle 69 is connected to the frame by a hub 71 having a bore 73 for receiving the arm 14. The hub is fixedly secured to the arm 14 by a set screw 75. The hub is provided with a tubular projection 77 adapted to be press fitted within the tubular handle 69 (Figure 3). A tubular projection 79 extends upwardly from the hub and communicates with the projection 77 through the passage '81. The projection 77 is provided with a counterbore 83 so that the paint will flow freely through the hub without clogging. A member 85 having an opening 87 for receiving one end of the spring 97 is attached to the hub. A flexible tube 99 connects the projection 79 with the projection 46.

The support 43 is provided with an opening (not shown) for receiving a bolt 89 having a nut 91 and provided with a transverse opening 95 for receiving the other end of the spring. The bolt serves to adjust the tension on the spring so that the floating manifold will follow the contour of the roller at all times. When the roller is used on a ceiling, the tension on the spring will have to be increased to compensate for the weight of the manifold.

Referring to Figure 6, a flexible tube having a valve 101 with a thumb control 103 is connected to the handle 69 by a coupling 107. It should be noted that each end of the coupling is counterbored at 1109 and 111, respectively, so that the paint may flow freely therethrough and avoid disposition of any paint therein.

The paint container 113 is pressurized by a conventional means such as a compressor 1 15. When it is desired to operate the paint roller 31, the valve 101 is opened manually by the actuator 103, and the paint flows from the container 113 to the manifold 45 through line 105, valve 101, tubular handle 69, passage 81, and flexible tube 99. The spring 97 maintains the manifold 45 in pressure contact with the exterior surface of the roller 31, thereby permitting the roller to receive the proper amount of paint from the openings 47 as required. Due to the pressure contact of the floatable manifold with respect to the exterior surface of the roller, the openings of the manifold are closed, and the surface of the roller absorbs the paintfrom the openings as it is rotated.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangements'of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration, but instead he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A paint applying devicecomprising, in combination, a'roller having aJpaiht applying exterior'surfac'e, a U- shaped frame carrying between its ends an elongated axle member supporting said roller for rotation, said axle member being pivotally secured at one end to said frame and detachably secured at its other end to the frame, a

cylindrical paint manifold with spaced openings formed inone side of said manifold, said manifold disposed adjacent and axially of the roller so that the openings are in contact with said roller, pressure means including a hollow member adjustably attached to the frame and-adapted to serve as a handle for the roller for supplying paint to the manifold, and resilient means mounted on the frame for positioning the manifold in pressure contact with the exterior surface of the roller.

2. A paint applying device comprising, in combination, a roller having a paint applying exterior surface, frame means including a member for supporting said roller, an

elongated manifold with spaced openings formed in one side, said manifold disposed adjacent and axially of the roller, pressure means including a tubular handle connected to the frame for supplying paint to the manifold, and resilient means including a pivotal support on said frame for maintaining the openings of the manifold in contact with the exterior surface of the roller.

3. The combination of claim- 2 wherein the pressure means includes a flexible tube connecting the handle with the manifold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 826,897 Shely July 24, 1906 1,534,559 Yant Apr. 21, 1925 1,753,593 Bettes Apr. 8, 1930 2,028,084 Brown Jan. 14, 1936 2,245,777 Haecker June 17, 1941 2,488,655 Bennett Nov. 22, 1949 2,654,107 Magoon Oct. 6, 1953 

